Compare towns
Canaan vs Pittsfield vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Pittsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Canaan | Pittsfield | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
4,105Highest |
3,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
| Walpole and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH |
| Walpole and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$294,800±$30k 27% below NH |
$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH |
| Walpole and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,239±$182Highest 17% below NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
| Pittsfield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
$6,078Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Pittsfield School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Pittsfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.